Dahlia plant named `Dapawhi`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named `Dapawhi`, characterized by its fully double white inflorescences; uniform growth habit; dark green foliage; and strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis, and hereinafter referred to by the name `Dapawhi`.

The new Dahlia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact Dahlia cultivars suitable for potted plant production.

The new Dahlia originated from a cross made by the Inventor of two proprietary Dahlia variabilis selections identified as code number 041 as the female, or seed, parent and WHI as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar `Dapawhi` was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in 1992.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia by terminal cuttings harvested in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Dahlia has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `Dapawhi`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Dapawhi` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Fully double white inflorescences.

2. Dark green foliage.

3. Strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

The new Dahlia is similar in ray floret color to the Dahlia cultivar `Elly`, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,767. However in side-by-side comparisons conducted in West Chicago, Ill., plants of the new Dahlia differ from plants of the cultivar `Elly` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Dahlia have larger and darker green leaves than plants of the cultivar `Elly`.

2. Plants of the new Dahlia are not as freely branching as, but have thicker lateral branches than plants of the cultivar `Elly`.

3. Plants of the new Dahlia have fewer ray and disc florets than plants of the cultivar `Elly`.

4. Plants of the new Dahlia have taller inflorescences than plants of the cultivar `Elly`.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of the new Dahlia. Ray floret and foliage colors may appear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in West Chicago, Ill., in 10-cm containers in a glass greenhouse with average day temperatures about 20 to 22° C., average night temperatures about 18 to 20° C., and light levels about 2,500 to 3,000 foot-candles. Plants were planted about 4 weeks after propagating unrooted cuttings and were pinched about three weeks after planting. Plants were in full flower and descriptions were taken about 8 weeks after planting.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis `Dapawhi`.

Parentage:

Female, or seed, parent.--Proprietary Dahlia variabilis selection identified as code number 014, not patented.

Male, or pollen, parent.--Proprietary Dahlia variabilis selection identified as code name WHI, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.--By terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 4 days with temperatures of 22° C.

Time to develop roots.--About 14 days with temperatures of 22° C.

Rooting habit.--Terminal cuttings propagate easily, roots fibrous, thick and well-branched.

Tubers.--Plants of the new Dahlia will form tubers under short day conditions, that is at least 13 to 14 hours of darkness.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Pot plant and perennial garden plant. Upright and mounded, uniform growth habit, rounded apex. Vigorous. Appropriate for 10 to 12.5-cm containers. Plants typically flower about 8 weeks after planting rooted cuttings.

Plant height.--About 22.5 cm.

Plant spread.--About 22.5 cm.

Stem description.--Quantity: About two to three per plant. Basally branching, however, plants typically require pinching to enhance lateral branch development. Lateral branch length: About 13.5 cm. Lateral branch diameter: About 7.5 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: 144C.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Young foliage, leaves single; fully expanded foliage, leaves simple, occasionally compound and trifoliate; opposite. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 13. Terminal leaflet length: About 8.5 cm. Terminal leaflet width: About 6.5 cm. Leaflet shape: Elliptic. Leaflet apex: Acuminate. Leaflet base: Attenuate. Leaflet margin: Serrate to dentate. Leaflet texture: Rugose. Petiole length: About 3.25 cm. Petiole diameter: About 2.25 mm. Color: Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 139A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 189A. Venation, both surfaces: 144C. Petiole: 144C.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Fully double inflorescence form. Inflorescences hemispherical and borne on terminals above foliage, arising from leaf axils on strong peduncles; inflorescences face upright and/or outward. Typically about one to two inflorescences per lateral stem. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum. Persistent. Not fragrant.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plants flower intermittently from July to October in the Northern Hemisphere.

Flower longevity.--Flowers last about one to two weeks on the plant dependent on temperature.

Flower bud (just before opening).--Shape: Spherical. Length: About 2.25 cm. Diameter: About 1.95 cm. Color: Light green.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: About 10 cm. Depth (height): About 5 cm. Disc diameter: About 7.5 mm.

Ray florets.--Quantity per inflorescence: About 57. Shape: Elliptic. Length: About 5 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Apex: Slightly pointed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, dull. Color: Fully opened, upper surface: 155D; 8A at base. Fully opened, lower surface: 155D; 8A at base.

Disc florets.--Elongated, cylindrical; shiny. Quantity per inflorescence: About 30. Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Color: 1B.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Erect and strong. Length: About 8 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144C.

Involucral bracts.--Quantity: About 5. Diameter of bract whorl: About 4 cm. Shape: Diamond-shaped. Tip: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, shiny. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 139A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium (Present on disc florets): Anther size: About 3.5 mm. Anther color: 1A. Pollen color: 23A. Gynoecium (Present on ray and disc florets): Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma color: 1B. Style color: 151C. Ovary color: 145B.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Dahlia diseases has not been observed on plants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named `Dapawhi`, as illustrated and described. 